Han family achievements

Chapter 571: The Three Qiang
The next day, Xun Yu hurried back to Luoyang.

The summer harvest is approaching, and as the prime minister, he has a lot to do.

Liu Bian did not leave and continued to inspect the Three Prefectures.

Sanfu is the western gateway of Luoyang City. In the past, the Han Dynasty fought the invading Qiang people here for more than ten years and spent tens of billions of money and grain.

This battle seriously overdrew the treasury of the Han Dynasty and also marked the beginning of the Han Dynasty's decline.

Liu Bian wandered outside the city. There were wastelands everywhere, sparsely populated, and a dilapidated scene.

Walking slowly, Liu Bian said to Huang Zhong beside him: "There is a fierce quarrel in Luoyang City now. Some people think that Yuan Shao is seriously ill and will not live long. As long as he dies, it will be a godsend opportunity for the court to recover Yangzhou, so we should wait. Some people think that there is no need to wait. Yuan Shao has been fighting with Shi Xie for many years and has long been in a desperate situation with exhausted soldiers and food shortages. We should take the opportunity to send troops and not give Yuan Shao a chance to breathe. Another part of the opinion is mainly from the Grand Marshal's Mansion. They think that Yangzhou is a trapped beast and there is no need to care about it. But the Three Qiang cannot be delayed any longer. Han Sui and Ma Teng are getting married. Once they unite, it will be difficult for the court to recover Liangzhou. Especially the civil war among the Qiang people is a great opportunity. If you miss it, there will be no more. What do you think?"

Huang Zhong is now the Lieutenant General of Sili, a position far higher than his former position as the Colonel of Sili. He is also in charge of the military affairs of Hanzhong. He is the person with the most say in the matter of the three Qiang tribes in Liangzhou.

But from beginning to end, he had no attitude and never wrote a letter.

Stay out of it and don't get involved in the chaos in the government or the country.

Huang Zhong had expected Liu Bian to ask this question, and said, "Your Majesty, I think what the Prime Minister said makes sense. The Three Qiang are easy to defeat, but difficult to pacify. My idea is to take it step by step and gradually devour them."

Liu Bian paused, turned to look at him, and said, "No one has ever mentioned this method."

Huang Zhong’s meaning was very simple, that is, not to fight in one go, but to nibble away at it bite by bite until the entire Liangzhou was completely recovered.

"Three Qiang, will you allow it?" Liu Bian said thoughtfully.

Huang Zhong said: "Your Majesty, the court is no longer the same as it was in the past, and the Three Qiang are no longer the same Qiang people as before. As long as the court makes a plan and then makes a decision, the small battle will be over. The Three Qiang definitely do not have the courage to fight a decisive battle with the court, and it may be realized."

Liu Bian looked at Huang Zhong, then paced back and forth, analyzing Huang Zhong's plan in his mind.

"No."

After a while, Liu Bian stopped and shook his head, saying, "Theoretically, it is possible, but with the attitude of the court, it is difficult to achieve. In addition, if the Three Qiangs are involved in a tough battle, the past may repeat itself. We still have to fight to decide."

Huang Zhong didn't say anything else. He just bowed his body, with a look of "Your Majesty is right" written all over his face.

Liu Bian thought for a while and rejected Huang Zhong's proposal. Then he remembered that Huang Zhong seemed to have never participated in a major war and had a rich military career. He continued to walk forward, looking thoughtful, and said: "If we attack Liangzhou and Yizhou, who do you think is more suitable? Cao Cao or Liu Bei?"

Huang Zhong immediately saved them and said in a deep voice: "Your Majesty, the Grand Marshal and Lord Xuande are all important officials of the court and cannot be easily put in danger. I request your permission to attack Liangzhou and Yizhou and recover the two states for Your Majesty!"

Liu Bian raised his eyebrows, stopped again, and looked back at Huang Zhong.

Since he ascended the throne, the most effective person in quelling rebellions in various states was Cao Cao. The reason why Liu Bei stood out was because he recovered Jingzhou without bloodshed, and because of the deliberate efforts of some people to help him.

In fact, Liu Bei's military achievements were far inferior, even inferior to Zhang Liao's. After all, Zhang Liao did recover Xuzhou, while Liu Bei took Jingzhou without bloodshed, which was the final result of the efforts of all parties in the court. Strictly speaking, Liu Bei just picked peaches.

But when it came to the campaign against the Three Qiang and Liu Zhang, Liu Bian considered Cao Cao, Liu Bei and Zhang Liao, and never thought of Huang Zhong.

Because Huang Zhong had been stationed in Yanzhou for many years and had not participated in many wars, his military achievements were naturally very few.

Liu Bian was unsure whether Huang Zhong had the ability to take over Liang Province, where the situation was extremely complicated.

Huang Zhong was naturally very aware of his own situation. He was confident in himself and very eager for military merit. He immediately knelt on one knee and said in a deep voice: "I am willing to issue a military order!" Huang Zhong was not good at speaking, and this time he took the initiative to volunteer. He used up all the courage accumulated in his heart, but he could only say the six words "I am willing to issue a military order".

Liu Bian stared at him, his eyes gradually narrowed, his mind racing.

The Han military now has two strong forces: Cao Cao and Liu Bei.

Liu Bian didn't want to see this kind of situation. If only the two of them could be used for everything, then the Han Dynasty would be truly "full of talented people".

Deep down, Liu Bian never thought of using Cao Cao or Liu Bei, but was more inclined to Zhang Liao.

"Huang Zhong..."

Liu Bian looked at him, still hesitant.

Huang Zhong's face was tense, his fists pounded on the ground, and he was soaked with sweat without realizing it.

His eyes were bright and extremely determined.

"it is good,"

After a long while, Liu Bian smiled, stretched out his hand to pull him up, and said: "I will give you this opportunity. I will transfer Lu Bu to you, and give you Xiahou Yuan, Yu Jin, and Zilong to help you. As for food and grass, I will transfer it to you from Luoyang. I will let Han Bin transport all the summer grain from Jingzhou and Bingzhou this year to Hanzhong..."

Huang Zhong looked at Liu Bian, his face was as hard as iron, his eyes were even more determined, but his breathing became a little faster.

Your Majesty was obviously hesitant about his ability, and he transferred many capable generals to him, especially Zhao Yun, and also gave him all the taxes of Jing and Bing states.

Huang Zhong opened his eyes wide, knelt down again, and said in a deep voice: "If you fail to defeat the Three Qiang, I will bring my head to you!"

Liu Bian smiled, looked in the direction of the Three Qiang, and said, "Get up. We can't fight this year, so make preparations first. After the beginning of next spring, you can choose the right time to send troops. I will give instructions to the Grand Marshal's Mansion and give you the right to act at your own discretion."

"I obey your command." Huang Zhong was extremely excited, yet felt under a mountain of pressure.

Huang Zhong's heart was now surging with excitement, and he could hardly control himself. He did not realize a problem - his majesty really wanted to conquer the Three Qiang first, instead of Yuan Shao in Yangzhou!
Liu Bian had solved a big problem, and he felt relieved. He laughed out loud and said, "Qingjia, come, let's race horses."

Huang Zhong quickly asked someone to bring the horse, and when he saw Liu Bian mount the horse, he turned over and mounted it, thinking about how to lose normally.

"His Majesty,"

Pan Yin hurried over and stood by and whispered, "There's news from Luoyang City that the Second Prince killed someone in Henan County and was arrested by Henan County."

Liu Bian, who had already reined in his horse and was about to run away, was startled. He turned around and asked, "Second Brother? Who did he kill? Henan County, Zhen Yu? Did he catch the Second Brother?"

Pan Yin looked around and saw that there were no people around, so he said, "Yes. The news said that a wicked gentry who had robbed a woman was killed and was captured on the spot by Henan County, along with more than ten rangers."

Liu Bian raised his eyebrows and looked towards Luoyang. He said, "I knew he would cause trouble, but I didn't expect it to happen so soon. Let the Crown Prince and Guo Yong handle it. Take him back and lock him up."

Pan Yin didn't understand why His Royal Highness the Crown Prince went with Luoyang Prefecture Governor Guo Yong, but he didn't dare to ask, and instead asked, "Your Majesty, is he being held in the palace or outside?"

Last year, Crown Prince Liu Shao had already set up his own residence and lived in the Crown Prince's Mansion in the east of Luoyang City. The second son, Liu Yu, had also reached the age to leave the palace, and as he admired the knights-errant, he did not set up his own residence but also bought a house outside the palace. Most of the time, Liu Bian tacitly allowed him to live in the outer house.

(End of this chapter)